Reclining chair



RECLINING CHAIR elif/zak JNVENTOR.

75L- orneys 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Kd:

E J ELINE K RECLINING CHAIR N .Um

Sept. 20, 1960 Flled June 12, 1959 United States Patent i RECLINING CHAIR Erwin Jelinek, Naperville, lll., assigner to Kroehler Mfg. Co., Naperville, lll., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 12, 1959, Ser. No. 820,002

2 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to reclining chairs and more particularly to a reclining chair wherein a unitary seat and back structure and leg rest operate in synchronism when the seat and back unit is moved by an occupant to a reclining or upright position.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a reclining chair in which rearward, tilting movement of the seat and back unit results in upward and outward movement of the leg rest relative to the seat.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a chair of the foregoing type which is adjustable for reclining in `a multiplicity of intermediate positions between upright and reclining positions.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a reclining chair which lends itself to manifold styling so as to be compatible with a wide variety of furniture designs.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a chair of the foregoing type which is simple in construction and eilicient in operation.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a chair in accordance with my invention, in sitting or upright position, with one side frame of the chair being broken away; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the chair in a reclining position.

Referring to the drawings, the chair construction of my invention comprises generally, a supporting frame formed of `a pair of side frame members 5, and a pair of transverse brace members 6 and 7. While the linkage arrangement hereinafter to be described is employed in duplicate, one on each of the opposite sides of the chair structure, for purposes of simpliiication, only one of such arrangements will be described in connection with the drawings.

The unitary seat and back structure, which includes a seat 8 and back 9 rigid with each other, is movable as a unit. A bracket 11 is attached to the underside of each of the seat rails 12 with the brackets being in transverse registration and being pivotally connected to the frame 5,

' as at 13. The seat and back unit pivots between the positions illustrated in Figs. l and 2. In the upright seating position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the seat rails 12 abut the transverse member 6 of the frame while in the reclining position illustrated in Fig. 2, the back 9 abuts the transverse member 7 of the frame.

A foot or leg rest supporting member, indicated generally by the numeral 14, in sitting position, is disposed ilush against the forward part of the frame and below the forward end of the seat.

A metal plate 16 secured to the forward portion of each seat rail 12 affords means for pivotally connecting to the seat 8 a plurality of links, hereinafter to be described. The leg rest member 14 is connected to the seat 8 by a linkage arrangement which includes a first link 17 pivoted to the plate 16, as at 18, a second link 19 similarly pivoted to the plate 16 at the forward portion of the seat, as at 21, and at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 18. The pivotal connection 18 is below the pivotal connection 21. A third link 22 is pivotally connected to the leg rest member 14, as at 23, the opposite end of said third link being connected to the lowermost end of the first link 17, as yat 24, said second and third links crossing each other and being pivotally connected to each other as at 26. A fourth link 27 is pivotally connected to the leg rest member 14 as at 28, at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 23 and to the lowermost end of the second link 19 as at 29.

A controlling member 31 is pivotally connected at one end as at 32, to a bracket 33 mounted on each side of the frame 5, the pivotal connection being below the seat but above the pivotal connection 13 in normal setting position. The controlling member 31 is pivot-ally connected at the other end as at 34, to one end of a first-connecting link 36, which is pivoted intermediate the ends thereof as at 37 to the plate 16 mounted on the seat. The pivotal connection 37 is above the pivotal connection 1S. A second-connecting link 38 is pivotally connected to the end of the rst-connecting link 36 as at 39, and to the iirst link 17 at an intermediate point thereof mmcateu by the numeral 41.

ln sitting position, as illustrated in Fig. l, the leg rest member 14 is disposed ush against the forward part of the frame 5 and the seat 8 is rested on the transverse member 6. When the unit is swung rearwardly to full reclining position, movement of the unit eifects lifting of the leg rest member and a forward propelling thereof to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the movement of the unit being limited by the transverse member 7 against which the back rest 9 abuts.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, l do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiment shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person comprising, a support, a unit including a back rest and seat rigid with each other, said unit being rockably mounted on said support, a iirst link pivoted to said seat, a second link pivoted to said seat, a leg rest, a third link pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first link, said second link and said leg rest, a fourth link pivoted at spaced points thereof to said second link a nd said leg rest, said third link and said second link crossing each other at the pivotal connection connecting the same with each other, a controlling member pivotally mounted on the support, a rst connecting link pivoted intermediate its ends to said seat and being pivotally connected at one end to one end of said controlling member, and a second connecting link pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said first connecting link, the other end of said second connecting link being connected to said first link at an intermediate point thereof, the pivotal connection of the rst connecting link with the seat being above the pivotal connection of the first link with the seat.

2. An article of repose for supporting the' body of a person comprising, a support, .a unit including a back rest and seat rigid with each other, said unit being rockably mounted on said support, a rst link pivoted to said seat, a second link pivoted to said seat, a leg rest, a third link pivoted at spaced points thereof to said first link, said second link and said leg rest, a fourth link pivoted at spaced points thereof to said second link and said leg rest, said third link and said second link crossing each other at the pivotal connection connecting the same with Patented Sept. 20, 1960 each' other, a controlling member pivotally mounted on `connection ofthe seat'w-ith the support being belowl the the support, a rst connecting link pivoted intermediateV Vpivotal connection of the controlling link with the its` endsvto said seat and being pivotally connectedV at supporti.

one end to one end of sandV controlling member, and a Y References Cited in the me of this Patent second connectingilink pivotally connected -at one end. 5 to the otherendofV said viii-st connecting link,` the otherY UNITED STATES PATENTS end of said; secondv connecting link being( connected. to- Y 2,849,052, Schliephacke Aug. 26I 1958 said -rrst linkatanintermediate point Vthereof,rthe pivotal 2,893,472 Repaich July 7, 1959 

